Our journey back from San Simeon took us through one of the most sparsely populated areas in California. We decided to go this route back to San Jose so we could visit Old Mission San Miguel Arcangel and also walk a trail in Pinnacles National Park. This was Cattle Ranch Country and for part of it Vineyards in every direction. The largest town only had a population of 430 people on a road 100 miles long.
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| The Mission Chapel which was very simply furnished and had been damaged in the earthquake of 2003. There are still Franciscan Monks resident at the Mission. |
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| Despite the fact that this area is suffering from a drought the landscape was very green and the wild flowers were everywhere. We were told by locals that in a few months time everything will be brown. |
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| There are mountains to the west of this road and for 100 miles no roads cross from east to west so it is a real wilderness area with nobody living there. This valley is all cattle Ranches and Vineyards |
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| We stopped for a picnic and a walk at Pinnacles National Park where the small campsite has this lovely little swimming pool. |
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| At the head of the valley we walked a trail for a couple of miles following this dried up river bed. At this time of the year the river should have water in it after winter rains but it has been another very dry winter. |
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| This is the river to the north of the bridge in the photograph below and it shows where the river just stops running |
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| The bridge over a dry riverbed |
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| The trail leading into the mountain. This has been a fantastic week taking us through a lot of California and I have to say it is spectacular beyond belief. The Pacific Coast is so full of wildlife and spectacular scenery that you could stop at almost every lay-by and beach which of course would be impossible on a tight deadline. The journey back shows a totally different California and you could hardly believe how remote it is considering further south is the huge metropolis of Los Angeles. |